The final chapter may be about to be written in the saga over the development of Middlesbrough's North Riding Infirmary site.

Middlesbrough Council's planning committee is being recommended on Friday to approve Aldi's latest application to develop the site.

Three previous bids to get planning approval have failed and one of the applications was also rejected after a public inquiry.

In 2003 the Evening Gazette launched a campaign to try to save the North Riding Infirmary building. It received huge backing from Teesside residents.

But the building was unlisted and it was demolished last year.

Central to previous applications being refused was the planning committee's view that the infirmary site was at a key gateway into the town and any development had to reflect that status.

The latest application by Aldi includes an Aldi supermarket, a second shop and a hotel.

The portico which stood at the infirmary's entrance would also be rebuilt on the site.

Planning officers are reporting to the planning committee: "It is considered the current mixed use proposal would make a key contribution to the regeneration of the surrounding areas of Newport Road and Hartington Road."

They say the proposal meets national design guidelines and the design quality requirements of the Local Plan.

"Therefore, these cumulative effects would ensure this proposed development would be entirely appropriate to this edge-of-town-centre location as a major mixed-use scheme in accordance with the Middlesbrough Local Plan," say the planning officers.